How utility companies uses weather metric to calculate increase in energy production

(QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Summer was another scorcher across the U.S.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, it was the fourth warmest summer in history.

With the warmer summers, this includes more energy usage to cool down your homes and businesses.

Utility companies like Duke Energy use a metric called Cooling Degree Days (CDDs) to be sure they can match the demand for energy on hot summer days. To calculate the amount of CDDs for a given day, it takes a little math.

First, you must calculate the average temperature for a day.

Average Temperature = (Low Temperature + High Temperature) ÷ 2

Once you get the average temperature for the day, you want to subtract that by 65 degrees.

The formula uses 65 as the based temperature because energy companies assume that no heat or air conditioning is needed when it is 65 degrees outside.

Using the example above: 70+90=160. Divide 160 by 2 and you get 80.

Next you will take 80 and subtract it by 65. That gives you 15 CDDs for the day.

Duke Energy has a team of meteorologists that help forecast the amount of CDDs for each day.

“Those forecasts are used by our energy controllers to be able to dispatch power from power plants,” said Duke Energy Spokesperson Jeff Brooks. “Say tomorrow, we are going to need extra power from this plant or this plant. It may even lead to us needing to purchase more power from out of state to be able to add to our existing generation”

According to Climate Central, Cooling Degree Days are on the increase.

Charlotte is seeing almost a 400 Cooling Degree Day increase over the last five decades.

There’s a sharper increase in CDDs as students head back to school.

Brooks added that the usage of air conditioning during the summer usually equates to half of consumers’ bills, which means the AC usage will lead to higher bills.

Brooks added that they are not only battling the rise in temperatures when it comes to energy consumption, but also the economic growth of Charlotte as more people move to the state.

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